The FIFA Disciplinary Code leaves little room for ambiguity when it comes to teams using players who should not be on the pitch. Yet, South Africa’s World Cup qualifying campaign has been thrust into uncertainty after allegations that Bafana Bafana fielded an ineligible player in their 2–0 win over Lesotho earlier this year.
At the centre of the storm is midfielder Teboho Mokoena. He had accumulated two yellow cards in back-to-back matches before facing Lesotho in March, a situation that should have triggered a mandatory one-match suspension.
Instead, he was listed in the starting XI and helped his team to victory, a decision that rivals are now calling a violation of FIFA rules.
What the rules actually say
According to Article 55.1 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, any team that fields an ineligible player automatically forfeits the match. The penalty goes beyond just losing the points gained on the pitch: the team is sanctioned with a 3–0 defeat and a fine of at least CHF 6,000 (about $7,500).
This position is reinforced in Article 8.2 of the Organising Framework for Tournaments (OFT) Regulations, which similarly insists that the guilty team must forfeit the result.
This isn’t just theory. FIFA has consistently applied this law across competitions, from youth tournaments to senior international qualifiers. The principle is simple: rules are rules, and no team should benefit from fielding a player who should not have played.
The stakes in Group C
The timing of this controversy could not be more dramatic. Group C of the CAF World Cup qualifiers is hanging by a thread.
South Africa currently lead with 16 points, but a three-point deduction would hand the advantage to Benin, who sit second with 11 points, and also give Nigeria third with 10 points, a potential lifeline as the Super Eagles prepare to face Bafana Bafana in Bloemfontein.
Lesotho, who lost the disputed match, stand to benefit directly if FIFA enforces its rules. They could be awarded three points and a 3–0 scoreline, which would dramatically alter the group table. Rwanda and Zimbabwe, meanwhile, are also watching closely, as the ripple effect of any sanction could reshape qualification chances for every team.
The delay and the debate
What frustrates many observers is FIFA’s silence. More than six months have passed since the March fixture, yet there has been no official ruling.
Nigeria and Benin have led calls for sanctions, while South Africa continue to prepare as if nothing is amiss.
For rival fans, the uncertainty feels like an unfair advantage to Bafana Bafana. For South African supporters, it raises fears that all the hard work in the qualifiers could be undone by an administrative oversight.
Beyond the headlines
This case isn’t just about one player. It highlights the importance of strict compliance in international football, where even minor oversights can change the course of a qualification campaign.
Whether FIFA delivers a swift ruling before South Africa’s clash with Nigeria remains to be seen, but the laws themselves are clear: ineligible players have no place on the pitch, and the consequences are always severe.
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